6 takeaways from Carroll on Seahawks' Week 2 loss, looking forward

September 19, 2018 7:27 PM

WHERE DOES THE O-LINE GO FROM HERE?

The message, in regards to the offensive line’s performance, remained largely positive.

Carroll said Wednesday that the pass protection is “more solid that it’s been,” despite Russell Wilson being sacked six times for a second straight game. There’s no indication that the Seahawks plan to make any significant changes up front ahead of their home opener.

“It doesn’t mean much to you guys until we start (playing better). I think you’ll see it in time,” Carroll said. “Duane (Brown) has added a lot to us. (J.R.) Sweezy has done a nice job in adding to us. Germain (Ifedi), on the other side, is doing better also. We’re just getting better and it’s going to show and we’re going to take advantage of it.

“We have to stay out of the bad situations to really make that come to life. We have to prove that. I can say all I want about that, but we have to show it.”

Starting right guard D.J. Fluker, who missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice Wednesday but two offensive linemen popped up on the injury report as DNPs (Did Not Practice): Justin Britt and Ethan Pocic.

Britt is day-to-day with a shoulder injury, while Pocic’s status is unclear. He was wearing a boot on his left leg.

WHERE DOES THE O-LINE GO FROM HERE?
The message, in...photo-16197307.185325 - |ucfirst

WILSON’S BUMPY PROGRESS WITH NEW OFFENSE

When Wilson appeared frustrated over a timeout call on a drive in the fourth quarter -- before the pick-six -- it seemed to epitomize the Seahawks’ offensive woes thus far this season: stagnant drives and an imbalance between throwing and running the ball.

Carroll cleared the air Wednesday on the timeout call that went viral -- saying the team was “misaligned” in its formation and Wilson wasn’t at fault -- while also insisting that the Brian Schottenheimer-led offense hasn’t asked the franchise quarterback to change.

“I’ve heard that there’s some question that we’ve told (Wilson) to do something different now. We’re not,” Carroll said. “We haven’t changed what he does. We’ve just tried to make him more confident in the protection. … “He has a lot of freedom. He has more freedom than he’s ever had -- much more, as a matter of fact.”

Carroll said the bumpy start with Schottenheimer is not an issue; Rather, that they’re “growing together.”

“This miscues and all, were new,” Carroll said. “We missed this, we missed that. We can fix all of those things. I know Shotty (Schottenheimer) and Mike (Solari) have been so clear about it. We see exactly what the issues are. We just gotta knock them out and make sure they don’t come back again and we clean this thing up. … We have to eliminate (the negative plays).”

WILSON’S BUMPY PROGRESS WITH NEW OFFENSE
When Wilson...photo-16197336.185325 - |ucfirst

SOOOO WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED WITH CHRIS CARSON?

There was a lot of confusion about why the team's No. 1 tailback didn’t get touches as the game wore on. Carroll contradicted himself within 24 hours of the Week 2 loss (Carroll said that Carson was “gassed” and played a lot of special teams. Carson said he wasn’t tired and he only played two special teams snaps). First-round pick Rashaad Penny played more than the second-year running back.

But when asked if Carson was still the team’s No. 1 option in the backfield, Carroll set the record straight for good Wednesday.

“I screwed up,” Carroll said. “I thought it looked like he was winded early in the game. I was just concerned about it, and I thought it was because of the special teams because he hadn’t had a lot of plays yet.

“I talked to (Carson). He didn’t think he was winded. … He was in the game plan all the way through the third quarter. Rashaad really got some chances in the fourth quarter and (we) wanted to see him run, see what he could do. And he did fine.

“That’s all there is. There’s no changes in approach, no changes on the depth chart or anything of that. So we should be really clear about that.”

Carroll said that the linebacker will play Sunday against the Cowboys, but that he’s also still not sure if he will be suspended in the near future by the NFL.

Kendricks pleaded guilty to insider trading charges in September and faces prison time (30-37 months, according to ESPN) at sentencing in January. Discipline from the league is expected on top of the federal ruling.

“He’s playing this week, that’s what I know,” Carroll said.

Kendricks, who played his first six NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, made an immediate presence as a fill-in starter for Wagner -- despite being acquired by Seattle just a few days before the game.

He recorded a sack in his Seahawks' debut.

“He did a really nice job,” Carroll said. “He missed one huge opportunity on the sidelines when he went for an interception on the flat route. But other then that, he did a good job. He blitzed well. He covered well. … Coming brand new into our game, he did a great job. I was very pleased.”

NO NFL RULING ON MYCHAL KENDRICKS
Carroll said that the...photo-16186978.185325 - |ucfirst

UNCLE WILL KEEPS BALLING

Will Dissly’s phenomenal start to his NFL career has continued.

Considered the team’s third-string tight end prior to training camp, and known more as a blocker than a pass catcher coming out of UW, Dissly has emerged as a Seahawks' starter.

After racking up more than 100 receiving yards in Week 1, the rookie had another strong outing against the Bears on Monday: three receptions for 42 yards and a score. According to Seahawks PR, he’s the first rookie tight end ever with at least a touchdown and more than 40 yards in his first two games.

“He’s really been a great, first-time starter for us,” Carroll said. “We’re relying on him to do a lot of things and he’s such a good learner and he’s such a great worker. He’s done a beautiful job so far. And he can get a lot better too. He missed a couple things. … He’ll get all of that in time. He’ll have everything nailed, he’ll totally command the position.”

The message, in regards to the offensive line’s performance, remained largely positive.

Carroll said Wednesday that the pass protection is “more solid that it’s been,” despite Russell Wilson being sacked six times for a second straight game. There’s no indication that the Seahawks plan to make any significant changes up front ahead of their home opener.

“It doesn’t mean much to you guys until we start (playing better). I think you’ll see it in time,” Carroll said. “Duane (Brown) has added a lot to us. (J.R.) Sweezy has done a nice job in adding to us. Germain (Ifedi), on the other side, is doing better also. We’re just getting better and it’s going to show and we’re going to take advantage of it.

“We have to stay out of the bad situations to really make that come to life. We have to prove that. I can say all I want about that, but we have to show it.”

Starting right guard D.J. Fluker, who missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice Wednesday but two offensive linemen popped up on the injury report as DNPs (Did Not Practice): Justin Britt and Ethan Pocic.

Britt is day-to-day with a shoulder injury, while Pocic’s status is unclear. He was wearing a boot on his left leg.